Just a few of the fantastic selfies we received for last year’s ‘How Many?’ competition.

  Clyde Cottage Nursery                                                                                                    P4 at Dalintober Primary

           Dalmally Primary                                                                                                  P1 at Ardrishaig Primary

We cannot wait to see your wonderful ‘Maths is Beautiful’ pictures for this year’s picture competition – remember to send them in to activeinlearning@argyll-bute.gov.uk.  We will be using your fantastic shots to create a SWAY showing just how beautiful maths can be and how it is truly all around us.  If you are looking for some ideas about ‘Maths is Beautiful’ then click on one of the links below:

Finding Fractals in Nature

Optical Art

Finding Fibonnaci

Please have a look at :

https://blogs.gov.scot/making-maths-count/

for events taking place across Scotland during Maths Week Scotland.  There are a range of resources and links on the website and the Twitter account will share additional information and promote activity.  Follow @MathsScot to keep up-to-date.

Twinkl have created a set of maths resources for Maths Week Scotland which are free to teachers in the week before and during Maths Week:

http://www.twinkl.com/

Here are a few more activities that you could use:

How Many Rows for ages 8 to 14     Tic-Tac-Toe-Sums for ages 6 to 10     Worms

If you have any other fantastic ideas or news items you would like to share with us then we would love to hear about them!  Twitter will be going #MathsWeekScot crazy.

earlylevelclassresourcepack

firstlevelclassresourcepack

secondlevelclassresourcepack

secondandthirdlevelclassresourcepack

Scottish Mathematical Council

Below is a link to an electronic copy of the Mental Skills Progression Framework created by Argyll and Bute to help guide your planning, assessment and moderation.  This guidance on mental agility has been checked against the benchmarks, and details all of the skills pupils are expected to have as they progress through the Broad General Education.  To provide feedback and comment on this document please contact Pauline Inglis on Pauline.Inglis@argyll-bute.gov.uk or Maria McArthur on Maria.Mcarthur2@argyll-bute.gov.uk

GUIDANCE-on-Mental-Agility

Below is a link to the PowerPoint presentation that has been used to deliver Number Talks training in schools.  It does cover other aspects of Numeracy in Argyll and Bute, including Sumdog and the Mental Skills Progression Framework. Please feel free to edit and use it as you wish within your own schools if you are delivering training to other staff.  The video clips have been removed due to the size of the file but these are available on the Numeracy in Argyll and Bute Sharepoint page –

Do not hesitate to get in touch with Maria McArthur if there is anything you would like more information on or any way I can support you with developing this initiative within your schools.

Power point presentation on Numeracy-in-Argyll-and-Bute

These are planning exemplars for Number Talks which you can download and use within your establishments.  Please feel free to adjust and change to suit your own schools.  We would also be delighted to view different examples of how teachers are planning for Number Talks so feel free to get in touch!

Completed as a guide:  Planning-for-Number-Talks

Blank for your own use:  Planning-for-Number-Talks

Useful links for developing your skills with Number Talks:

http://www.sfusdmath.org/math-talks-resources.html

http://www.sfusdmath.org/uploads/2/4/0/9/24098802/effective_questioning_from_math_teaching_toolkit_2015-2016.pdf

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RAug0wXbF_hDcelFn7jnKFjSvoIjcDuum7JzeEPXpUY/edit#slide=id.gc2f21ea9_125

Here is a fascinating article by Jo Boaler (Stansted University) which supports the use of Number Talks as a way of raising attainment and increasing pupil confidence in numeracy.  Enjoy!

Fluency-Without-Fear-by-Jo-Boaler

This article focuses on Number Talks, how it can be used in the classroom, and the impact that it can have on pupils.  It is written by Sherry Parrish, the author of the Number Talks resource that has been purchased for all schools in Argyll and Bute Council.

http://www.mathsolutions.com/documents/NumberTalks_SParrish.pdf

Thinkboards

Fancy using thinkboards with your classes?  Here is a quick video guide on how to create one:

http://www.teachertube.com/video/maths-think-board-54406

If you have any completed examples you would like to share then send them in to Maria.Mcarthur2@argyll-bute.gov.uk or tweet them to @MariaMcArthur2

There are also a few examples of some thinkboards available. Click here to download and also send in some photos of completed thinkboards from your pupils!

Thinkboard                                                19thinkboard

blank thinkboard